Gurry, Bibby carry the candle for local trainers

Warracknabeal’s Ian Bibby travelled to the Meadows on Saturday night with kennel star Crymelon Comet to contest the final of the Ballarat to the Meadows Grade 5 Final.

Comet ran third in the second heat at Ballarat on New Year’s Eve to progress to the final.

Comet drew awkwardly in the final at the weekend, having to exit the six alley.

Jumping well, he found early bother and was chopped out but then used his great track sense to find the fence and rail hard.

After being shuffled back to seventh, Comet was valiant in defeat and ran a super race to finish third.

Andrea Gurry of Nhill has found success at both Warrnambool and Horsham.

Gurry won at Horsham with Loco Tonto in the Grade 5, 410-metre event on December 27, coming from behind to win by one length in 23:62sec, with Murtoa’s Heather Baxter making it a local quinella with Special Innings placing second.

Gurry then had success at Warrnambool

on Saturday with a victory to Extremely across the 390m journey by two lengths in the time of 22:38sec.

Gurry ran second in the race prior with Smiling Olive, whom was only run down in the shadows of the post after setting an early pace.

Kevin Ashton of Charlton produced an emotional victory when his smart chaser Classy Shifter jumped straight to the front in the On-site Engineering 410m Grade 5 event and was never in danger, winning by half-a-length in the smart time of 23:38sec.

Kevin has recently lost his long-time partner Jan, who passed away in early December. Well wishes from the Horsham greyhound community, Kevin.

Remembering Charlie

Horsham Greyhound Racing Club was also saddened to hear of the passing of a foundation member.

Charlie Williams died on January 3 aged 99 years and nine months.

Charlie was a member of the original committee in 1973 when the club conducted its first race meeting.

But he would have donated countless hours before this date during the initial planning and application stages for the race track and club.

Charlie was a committee member from 1973 until 1988 and race day judge from the mid-1970s through to 1992 — an extraordinary effort for which he was made a life member of the club in 1985.

Committee changeover

The club also thanks Bill Phelan, who finished up on the committee at this year’s annual general meeting.

Bill has been a valued member of the committee for the past six years and without volunteers like Bill, the club simply could not run.

Ian Robinson of Avoca has joined the committee.

Ian, or Robbo as he is known around the track, is a regular racer and his greyhound and industry knowledge will be invaluable for the club going forward.